Churchianity

Shall we be disciples of Jesus together? Or would you rather just participate in a Religious System?

Note: After all these years, I realize that we can’t examine what is wrong with Evangelical Christianity in America without considering 400 years of slavery and racism on this continent. Race and Racism – More to come on this subject. 

 

Articles

 

The Evangelical Subculture

Counterfeit Christs – Is your Pastor a one-man show?

Questions About Churchianity vs. The Church

Biblical Church or Family Business?

 

 

Dictionary Definitions

Churchianity
Overemphasis on ecclesiastical and denominational matters in Christianity.

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

The usually excessive or sectarian attachment to the practices and interests of a particular church [institution – procinwarn.com editor].

Merriam-Webster – College Dictionary (online)

Main Entry: church·i·an·i·ty
Function: noun
Etymology: church + -ianity (as in Christianity)
Date: 1837

Ecclesiastical

of or having to do with the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not lay: ecclesiastical courts.

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

Sectarian

of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect, limited in character or scope

Main Entry: 1sec·tar·i·an
Pronunciation: sek-‘ter-E-&n
Function: adjective
Date: 1649
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian
2 : limited in character or scope : PAROCHIAL
– sec·tar·i·an·ism  / noun

Merriam-Webster – College Dictionary (online)

Clergy

persons ordained for religious work; ministers, pastors, or rectors, priests, and rabbis.

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

Clerical
  1. of a clerk or clerks; for clerks: Keeping records or accounts and typing letters are clerical jobs in an office. 2. of a clergyman or the clergy: The minister performed clerical duties in church. The priest wore clerical robes in church.  3. supporting the power or influence of the clergy in politics.

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

Lay
  1. of the people of a church not belonging to the clergy: The lay preacher this Sunday is a businessman during the week. 2. of the people who do not belong to a particular profession: Doctors feel the lay mind understands little of the causes of diseases. 

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

Parochial

confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope

Main Entry: pa·ro·chi·al
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English parochiall, from Middle French parochial, from Late Latin parochialis, from parochia parish — more at PARISH
Date: 14th century
1 : of or relating to a church parish
2 : of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government
3 : confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish :limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region) : PROVINCIAL, NARROW
– pa·ro·chi·al·ly  / adverb

Merriam-Webster – College Dictionary (online)

Profession
  1. an occupation requiring special education, such as law, medicine, teaching, or the ministry. 2 any calling or occupation by which a person habitually earns his living

The World Book Dictionary – 1990

 

Churchianity is a form of Legalism

 

One of the most disappointing things about being a part of a church that is more institutional than New Testament, is realizing that you’re not dealing with friends, but a bureaucracy.

Demagogues, Sycophants (Servile Flatterer), and their Cronyism

 

Why is it that people don't feel like they got their ticket punched unless they've been to a show?

Ticket Punched: A legalistic view of “church service” attendance versus true fellowship among friends in Jesus’ name.
Show:  A Sunday Morning Production.

"Church" as Business Franchise

Who profits?

What are the products?

Who are the customers?

Who are the salesmen?

What is the business model?

What are the brand names?

What does the Bible say?

 

Return to:

 

Articles

 

The Evangelical Subculture

Counterfeit Christs – Is your Pastor a one-man show?

Questions About Churchianity vs. The Church

Biblical Church or Family Business?

 

 

Comments and Questions about Churchianity

Churchianity leads to Pragmatism
Pragmatism leads to False Gospels
New World Order Niceness What’s that?

Hitler’s “Positive Christianity”

The World and Churchianity markets to young people
Older people and parents are disrespected.

Young people are pandered to.

Why are so many professing Christians...

…so easily drawn away to worldly agendas?

The most judgmental people I have known...
…are the ones who are always accusing other people of being judgmental.
Stepford Wives?
How might this be a useful illustration for many professing Christians in the Churches of these last days?
What does it take to build the Megachurch of the Anti-Christ?
What does it take to build ANY Megachurch?
Why are Christians so susceptible to the latest fad celebrity authors and their books?
The Evangelical Subculture

Why are so many Christian women drawn to slick-marketed women leaders and female celebrity Bible teachers?

Women Leaders & Teachers

When Churchianity Takes Over
Should it not grieve us when sincere fellowship among the brethren is co-opted, taken over, usurped by churchianity?

Is it not reasonable for us to be concerned when the flesh rules in the assembly instead of the Spirit of God? When the personality of men dominate instead of letting Jesus have preeminence?

Yes, we should overlook personal offenses and not insist on our own way.

But the beauty and fulfillment of sincere fellowship causes us to hope for something better when churchianity creeps into the assembly.

Favoritism for the Rich Man?
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

James 2:1-4

Cultivating Clergymen

Making Disciples is not the same as Cultivating Clergymen

Double Standards for Clergymen?

Is it ok for a clergyman to criticize people but if others raise questions it’s called judgmental?

“Attacks from Satan”
It is cult-like for leaders to characterize differing views as “attacks from Satan”.
Totalitarian Dictator
A totalitarian dictator seeks to suppress all discussion that he perceives as dissent.
The “Pulpit”
Should the “Pulpit” be used for personal attacks with plausible deniability?
Questioning
Should church leaders imply that any questioning or disagreement is division caused by Satan?
How can some one be a prophecy expert...
… but then ridicule Biblical warnings?
Cult-like mentality

It is a cult-like mentality that says that all criticism or all dissent is division; or that anyone who criticizes a leader or an institution is necessarily a divisive person.

Why are many Clergyman...
… under such pressure to spout political rhetoric?
Abusing the “Pulpit”
What forms does this take?
The Political Clergyman

Sees people only as:

  • Assets, or
  • Enemies
Cultivates a Following

The Political Clergyman Cultivates a Following

In what ways does he do this?

False Prophets - Corrupt authorities

False Prophets despise authority

See 2 Peter 2:10

Corrupt authorities despise these little ones (believers)

See Matthew 18:1-10 & 19:13; Mark 10:42; Matthew 23

Moses: A Type of Christ
God’s Word clearly teaches that Moses was intended to be a type of Christ, NOT of modern day religious leaders.

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Deut 18:15


For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Acts 3:22


This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Acts 7:37

The Moses Cults

Questioning a leader

Questioning a leader is not the same as questioning God.

Disagreeing with a leader is not the same as disagreeing with God.

What Does a Manipulator do?
He manipulates the people!

Jerk them around

Puppets on a string

Lean to the left, Lean to the right, stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!

Diotrephes

How can a Clergyman become a Diotrephes without actually kicking people out?

See 3 John 9, 10

Types of Leaders

Coercive Clergyman

Political Clergyman

Biblical Elder

Like a Pack of Dogs
Church leadership is often like a pack of dogs. There’s an alpha dog who has to demonstrate his dominance from time to time by biting the necks of the other dogs.
Building a Building?

At the very least, please…

Call it a “building” instead of “the Church“.

Call it the “main meeting room” instead of the “sanctuary”.

And please, please…

Don’t call the Pastor’s office the “Holy of Holies” !!!